Fury over Spilsby lights that keep coming on in day

Syd Morris who has been fighting an on-off battle with the council after footway lighhting continues to stay on during the day. ANL-160620-095803001

Published:08:00Sunday 26 June 2016

A Spilsby resident is furious because two footway lights are still coming on in the day, weeks after he reported the fault to the council.

Syd Morris first contacted the Skegness Standard last month about a light on a path leading from Halton Road, near where he lives, to the industrial estate, and another in the Post office car park.

Last month, when we visited Spilsby to see the lights they been turned off. But the on-off battle is continuing because Mr Morris claims the lights came back on shortly after and have been on day and night ever since.

Mr Morris said: “I couldn’t believe it! The council is burning my money - it’s my council tax. I’m so furious because they (East Lindsey District Council) claim they can’t afford to run them but they are wasting money not switching them off.”

The lights in question were believed to be the property of Spilsby Town Council, but according to the clerk Bonny Smith there is some confusion over who is reponsible for their upkeep. Mrs Smith said: “It’s very frustrating I’ve been in touch with highways (Lincolnshire County Council) because someone must be paying the bill.”

This week, a spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council said the Halton Road light was the town council’s and it was their responsibility to pay for upkeep.

However, there is some good news for residents regarding East Lindsey District Council-owned footway lighting in Ancaster Walk, Old Market Avenue, Simpson Street and Wellington Yard. In February, Spilsby Town Council was asked to consider taking on responsibility for the lighting costs as part of ELDC’s Draft Transformation Programme to save £6 million.

The town council has now agreed to pay for them, at an estimated cost of around £300.Mrs Smith said: “These are areas where a large number of residents are vulnerable. Simpson Street is used by patients visiting the Spilsby Surgery. It’s very dark there in the winter – or would be without the lights. We won’t start paying until 2018 and it will go on the precept but these footways need to be lit.”